Stokes, Benjamin A., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1856-57 along State Route 48 south of Ridgeville, this two-story brick farmhouse near Lebanon follows a common Ohio farmhouse type of the 1850s. It has a symmetrical three-bay east facade, an L-plan, walls of common bond brick, and dressed sandstone lintels and sills that were an elegant touch for the area at the time. A recessed two-level porch sits on the south side of the rear wing, and the Greek Revival door and gable details remain. Some changes have been made, including a bathroom inserted into the porch and a rebuilt rear porch. Benjamin A. Stokes bought the farm in 1853 and built the house three years later after working as a river trader and pork packer. He later opened a bank in Lebanon, served on the Orphan's Home board and was a Justice of the Peace for eleven years. The house is described as one of the finest and most typical examples of its kind in rural Warren County.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an exceptionally fine example of a brick vernacular Greek Revival Ohio farmhouse of the 1850s, and one of the finest and most typical in rural Warren County. It also reflects the farm prosperity of the period and the career of Benjamin A. Stokes, a farmer, trader, banker and civic figure. The house helps set the scene on the north approach to historic Lebanon.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 83002064, listed July 18, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 5587 OH 48, Lebanon |
|---|---|
| County | Warren County |
| Listed | July 18, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83002064 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific dates 1856-57) |
| Architectural style | Brick vernacular Greek Revival Ohio farmhouse |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied and in use as a private residence; condition marked excellent and altered, on its original site. |
| Acreage | 2.3 |
| Coordinates | 39.51712, -84.18618 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 83002064.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q138754654
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.